A stack planter reservoir retains a volume of water to be pumped through a hydroponic system. The stack planter reservoir includes a reservoir base, a lateral wall, a lid-receiving lip, and a planter-supporting lid. The reservoir base and the later wall define a storage volume for water. The lid-receiving lip is perimetrically connected to the lateral wall to receive the planter-supporting lid. The planter-supporting lid supports a single planter or a plurality of stacking planters. The planter-supporting lid includes a pump outlet to allow fluid transport from the storage volume to the planter or plurality of stacking planters.

A structure has a high-impact plastic polymer tile comprising interconnected individual cells, each having an outer wall of a vertical dimension forming a closed outer periphery, and a matrix filling the cells from a lowermost extremity of the walls of the cells, to level below an uppermost extremity of the internal walls of the cells, the matrix comprising material supporting plant growth. With the tile lying on a base surface, the individual cells of the tile constrain the matrix material from horizontal translation, and wherein the walls of the cells, extending above the level of the matrix in the cells, provide support for any wheeled vehicle without disturbing the matrix.

Proactively identifying and interdicting transport of commodities associated with illicit nuclear materials and nuclear weapons shielded by high Z-number materials, such as lead, can help ensure effective nuclear nonproliferation. In an embodiment, a method for imaging an object on a surface includes exciting a surface with ultrasonic excitation from an ultrasonic transmitter having an ultrasonic transducer in contact with the surface. The method further includes imaging, at a processor, a two-dimensional representation of the object acoustically coupled to the surface based on the ultrasonic reflections received at an ultrasonic receiver via a receiving transducer in contact with the surface. This method can complement existing x-ray screening systems to increase the odds of detecting radiological materials.

The hydroponic cultivation apparatus (1) of the present invention includes a container (10), a cover (50), a nutrient solution supply unit (20) for supplying a nutrient solution (W) to a hollow portion (12s) of the container (10), and a water level adjuster (60). The container (10) is formed in a tubular shape. The cover (50) has a size such that the cover (50) can protect rhizosphere (R) and cover the opening (14) of the container (10). The water level adjuster (60) is connected to the container (10) and enables adjustment of the water level of the nutrient solution (W) in the hollow portion (12s).

A self-contained closed aquaponics system comprises an aquarium tank attached side-by-side to a water container for growing plants, having a shared side. An electrically powered water pump streams the water from the aquarium tank via a pipe to the bottom of a compartment in the water container. When the water in the water tank exceeds a pre-set water level, the water are poured back to the aquarium tank via a recess or slit in the shared side. The compartment may comprise a bio-filter that is a sponge filter, a foam cartridge filter and the undergravel filter. The aquarium tank or the water container may be rectangular or cuboid shaped. A cover adapted to cover the water container may include multiple openings for mounting plants in pot nets therein, where roots of the plants are fed from the fish excretions in the aquarium tank after being filtered by the bio-filter.

The present invention provides an aeroponic plant growing system with improvement in efficiency, performance, and ease of maintenance. In an embodiment of the present invention, the aeroponic system comprises multiple aeroponic units and water cycle components, LED lights, sensors, and control components to support and operate the aeroponic units. Each aeroponic unit comprises a drainage tank to catch water, manifolds and spray nozzles to irrigate the plant clones, and one or more rooting trays. The rooting tray comprises rooting tubes extended from the apertures in which the plant clones are inserted. The rooting tubes are shaped and arranged in a manner such that a rooting tube shares its walls with its neighboring rooting tubes. In one embodiment, the cross section of a rooting tube is shaped as a hexagon with equal sides and multiple rooting tubes are arranged into a honeycomb structure. In certain embodiments, the aeroponic plant growing system further comprises stem collar trays removably fitting on top of the rooting trays. The stem collar trays have openings in which stem collars can be inserted into.

A hydroponic container growing system is provided. The growing system provides a closed growing environment providing climate and other growing conditions suitable for year-round plant production. The growing system may include a container having a plurality of subsystems therein. The plurality of subsystems may include a plant production system, an environmental regulation system, an energy capture system, a control system, and a dosage system. The plant production system may include an Ebb and Flow irrigation system and one or more Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) irrigation systems. A single reservoir may supply the Ebb and Flow irrigation system and a NFT irrigation system to provide a dual technique, single nutrient supply source irrigation system for plant production. An energy capture system which utilizes the kinetic energy of flowing liquid to generate electrical energy may be integrated into one or more irrigation systems within the plant production system.

A plant-growing container (500) can include a lower portion (506) and a wall (502) extending upwardly from the lower portion (506). The wall (502) can include a first aperture (512). The plant-growing container (500) can further include an orifice (510) formed by an upper portion (504) of the wall (502) and configured to receive a removable seed receptacle. The plant-growing container (500) can further include a reservoir provided by a lower portion (506) of the wall (502). The container (500) can be configured to be removably inserted into a port of a module of a plant-growing system, wherein the reservoir can be configured to receive a first volume of fluid from a fluid that is circulated through the plant-growing system.

A hydroponic grow system includes: multiple grow containers; a reservoir; and a water pump, where an output of the water pump is coupled to an inlet of the reservoir and at least one outlet of the reservoir is coupled to an input of the water pump. A hydroponic grow container includes: a grow vessel; and an adaptable manifold coupled to the grow vessel. A hydroponic reservoir including: at least one inlet; at least one outlet; a return tank; and a distribution tank.

An apparatus and system for growing plants in a controlled environment comprises an enclosure, at least one basket for receiving plant material to be grown in the apparatus, and at least one cassette for receiving a basket therein. The apparatus further comprises a drive mechanism, said drive mechanism operatively coupled to the at least one basket and/or the at least one cassette, that imparts a drive force to cause the at least one basket to rotate in the at least one cassette and in the enclosure. The apparatus and system also include a climate-control mechanism that may include a light source, a fan, a ventilation system, an air passage, and ductwork. The apparatus and system also include a trough with a sump for drainage of the trough, an intake aperture, a baffle, a closure, an air intake sleeve, and an intake fan.